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Yamagata

25 places to visit, with what each one is and notes on getting there.

Planning a trip to Yamagata

How the spots group

In Yonezawa, the Yonezawa Castle Ruins, Uesugi Shrine and the Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum are all within 0.3 km of one another in a straight line. Risshaku-ji, Kajo Park and Zaō Onsen are in the city of Yamagata. In Tsuruoka, Dewa Shrine stands at the Dewa Sanzan spot, and Gassan Shrine is 0.2 km from the Mount Gassan spot. Homma Museum of Art is in Sakata, Ginzan Onsen in Obanazawa and Tendo Shogi Town in Tendō; Yonezawa is about 115 km from Sakata.

Where to start

The checked route to Ginzan Onsen takes the Yamagata Shinkansen from Yamagata to Ōishida, then buses via Obanazawa. Other pages name the nearest station: Sakata on the Uetsu Main Line for Homma Museum of Art, Yamadera on the Senzan Line for Risshaku-ji, Yamagata for Kajo Park, Tendō on the Ōu Main Line for Tendo Shogi Town, Minami-Yonezawa on the Yonesaka Line for the Yonezawa Castle Ruins, and Takaya on the Rikuu West Line for the Mogami River Boat Tour. The pages for Mount Gassan and the Dewa Sanzan say no route has been checked.

Seasons and closures

Heavy snow shapes the calendar: Gassan Shrine and Yudonosan Shrine close in winter, and the mountain can usually be reached only from late spring to early autumn, while Dewa Shrine on Haguro can be visited all year. Ginzan Onsen receives heavy snow in winter, and Homma Museum of Art closes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from December to February. In late April professionals direct a game of human shōgi at Tendo Shogi Town. Festivals: Kinbō Shrine on 15 June, Gassan Shrine on 14 August.

Written by us from the spot pages on this site. Distances are straight lines; check each spot’s page for hours and routes before you go.

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